Lois Capps: “Mr. Speaker, I am here this afternoon to discuss an issue of such great importance in my district and across this…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am here this afternoon to discuss an issue of such great importance in my district and across this country: school construction and modernization. Last week, I visited Peabody Charter School in Santa Barbara, California. At Peabody School, students receive a top-notch education. Unfortunately, these students also feel the disturbing effects of overcrowding and inadequate school facilities. This is a school built for 200 students. Today it has an enrollment of way over 600 students. In an attempt to accommodate, portable classrooms take up precious playground space which should be used so that students can take part in physical activity, an important part of their education. Peabody School is one school in my district, which I am using this afternoon as an example to represent the dozens of overcrowded schools in my district. There are dozens of schools like this school, overcrowded and antiquated, in California and across this country.”